Switchback

Program Note

A switchback is a type of road that is designed to make it easier and safer for people to traverse mountains using a series of sharp turns that gradually change in elevation. While the intention for these types of roads is to make mountain-travel safe, that doesn’t mean that driving on them is any less precarious. In writing this piece, my goal was to capture the winding shapes and sudden turns of a switchback road, as well as the feeling of high alertness and unpredictability that one often gets while using such roads. Juxtaposing the erratic kind of music that results is a section featuring soaring melodies, broad gestures, and rich harmonies, all intended to evoke the breathtaking image of the surrounding mountain range. The view isn’t enjoyed for long, as the music soon plummets back to the turbulence of the opening, ending in an explosion of sound and color.

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Duration

7'​